On a Bust

Edgar Lee Masters 1868 (Garnett) – 1950 (Elkins Park)



A giant as we hoped, in truth, a dwarf;
A barrel of slop that shines on Lethe's wharf',
Which at first seemed a vessel with sweet wine
For thirsty lips. So down the swift decline
You went through sloven spirit, craven heart
And cynic indolence. And here the art
Of molding clay has caught you for the nonce
And made your shame our shame-- Your head in bronze!

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

21 sec read
399

Quick analysis:

Scheme AABBCCDE
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 367
Words 70
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 8

Edgar Lee Masters

Edgar Lee Masters was an American poet, biographer, and dramatist. more…

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